Discussion Topic of the Evening.
“Comet Leonard is Headed Our Way!”
Comet Leonard
https://www.space.com/newfound-comet-leonard-visible-2021
Photo of Comet Leonard
Waz Up
Space Exploration and Space History
Space Exploration News
Hubble Update
June 25, 2021 – NASA Completes Additional Tests to Diagnose Computer Problem on Hubble Space Telescope
https://www.sciencealert.com/images/2021-06/processed/hubble_1024.jpg
Purdue Researchers Work To Put A Refrigerator In Space
https://www.wfyi.org/files/image/20fb2747-deae-4d4b-b44f-0d565279acf2.jpeg
Comet
HUGE COMET DISCOVERY (UPDATED)
https://spaceweather.com/images2021/24jun21/outgassing_strip.jpg
Space-Related Birthdays
Ellison Onizuka Jun 24, 1946 STS-51-C & STS-51-L, the ill-fated Challenger mission
Donn F. Eisele Jun 23, 1930 Apollo 7
Bernard A. Harris Jr. Jun 26, 1956 STS-55, STS-63
Jasmin Moghbeli Jun 24, 1983 No flights yet, currently in astronaut training program
Raja Chari Jun 24, 1977 Space-X Crew 3
Brian Duffy (astronaut) Jun 20, 1953 STS-45, STS-57, STS-72, STS-92
James Buchli Jun 20, 1945 STS-51-C, STS-61-A, STS-29, STS-48
Gary Payton (astronaut) Jun 20, 1948 STS-51-C
William A. Pailes Jun 26, 1952 STS-51-J
This Week in Space History
This week in 1993, space shuttle Endeavour, mission STS-57, launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on a nine-day mission.
Miss Carolyn’s Constellation of the Week
Bootes, the Shepherd, and Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown.
Space Launches For This Week
Space Coast Launches
Space Flight Now Launch Schedule
June 25
Soyuz • Pion-NKS 1
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia
A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the Pion-NKS 1 electronic intelligence-gathering satellite for the Russian military. This is the first Pion-NKS spacecraft, a new generation of reconnaissance satellites for naval surveillance. The rocket will fly in the Soyuz-2.1b configuration without an upper stage. [June 18]
TBD
Falcon 9 • Transporter 2
Launch time: Approx. 1856-1954 GMT (2:56-3:54 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Transporter 2 mission, a rideshare flight to a sun-synchronous orbit with numerous small microsatellites and nanosatellites for commercial and government customers. Moved up from July. Delayed from June 25. [June 24]
June 29
Soyuz • Progress 78P
Launch time: 2327 GMT (7:27 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the 78th Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. The rocket will fly in the Soyuz-2.1a configuration. Delayed from March 19. [June 7]
July 1
Soyuz • OneWeb 8
Launch time: 1248 GMT (8:48 a.m. EDT)
Launch site: Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia
A Russian Soyuz rocket will launch 36 satellites into orbit for OneWeb, which is developing a constellation of hundreds of satellites in low Earth orbit for low-latency broadband communications. The Soyuz-2.1b rocket will use a Fregat upper stage. [June 7]
July
Falcon 9 • Starlink
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch on the first dedicated mission with Starlink internet satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base. This mission will deploy an unspecified number of Starlink satellites into a high-inclination orbit. [June 7]
July 15
Proton • Nauka
Launch time: 1716 GMT (1:16 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Russian government Proton rocket will launch the Nauka laboratory module to the International Space Station. The Nauka module, or the Multipurpose Laboratory Module, will also carry the European Robotic Arm to the space station. [June 18]
July 27
Ariane 5 • Star One D2 & Eutelsat Quantum
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: ELA-3, Kourou, French Guiana
Arianespace will use an Ariane 5 ECA rocket, designated VA254, to launch the Star One D2 and Eutelsat Quantum communications satellites. Owned by the Brazilian operator Embratel Star One, the Star One D2 was built by Maxar and will deliver telecommunications, direct-to-home television services, and fast broadband to customers in South America, Mexico, Central America, and parts of the Atlantic Ocean. The Eutelsat Quantum satellite was built by SSTL and Airbus Defense and Space under the auspices of a public-private research and development project between the European Space Agency, Eutelsat and Airbus. Designed for coverage over the Middle East and North Africa, the software-defined satellite can be reprogrammed for new communications missions in orbit. Delayed from January, February, March 4, and May. [June 7]
July 30
Atlas 5 • CST-100 Starliner Orbital Flight Test 2
Launch time: 1853 GMT (2:53 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, designated AV-082, will launch Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft on second unpiloted test flight to the International Space Station. This mission was added after Boeing’s decision to refly the Starliner’s Orbital Flight Test before proceeding with the Crew Flight Test. The rocket will fly in a vehicle configuration with two solid rocket boosters and a dual-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from 3rd Quarter. Delayed from Jan. 4. Moved forward from March 29, April 2 and May. [May 13]
TBD
GSLV Mk.2 • GISAT 1
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India
India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk. 2 (GSLV Mk.2), designated GSLV-F10, will launch India’s first GEO Imaging Satellite, or GISAT 1. The GISAT 1 spacecraft will provide continuous remote sensing observations over the Indian subcontinent from geostationary orbit more than 22,000 miles (nearly 36,000 kilometers) above Earth. Delayed from Jan. 15, February and March 5, 2020. Delayed from March 28, April 18, and May 2021. [May 13]
TBD
PSLV • RISAT 1A
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India
India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), designated PSLV-C52, will launch the Indian RISAT 1A radar Earth observation satellite. [March 12]
Recent Astronomical Discoveries
Cosmic Dawn Occurred 250 – 350 Million Years Ago
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/06/210624135543.htm
Visible satellite passages over the next couple of days.
All times are “local” (Dallas) time.
ISS
June 28
Tianhe-1
June 28
June 30
July 2
July 3